Sheffield United had reached the final of the Play-Offs for the first time of the modern age and were just 90 minutes away from securing Premiership football which they had lost agonisingly three years previous on the final day at Chelsea. But there day was to be spoilt by a plucky Scot who, with virtually the last kick of the game made a return to the top flight for his Palace side who had been relegated in 1995 – just 24 seconds were remaining on the clock when his in swinging shot evaded everyone, including Simon Tracey in the United goal.
There was little time for the Blades to re-coup themselves and mount a last ditch vain attempt before the final whistle blew and the celebratory Eagles merry-go danced their way around the Wembley turf in front of their much joyful supporters who had made the short journey across the Capital.
Their chairman, Rob Noades raced too on the field to join the celebrations but at the other end there were tears of despair as there fallen hero’s left sobbing and left to reflect on what was a tough hard season. Palace will have no doubt seen this victory as history making amends after they suffered a similar fate a year earlier, Leicester City (lost 1-2) were the victors with Steve Clarridge striking the painful blow.
It was on that defeat that the South London club mounted there promotion challenge and aimed for bitter sweet revenge in their return to the top. That wasn’t against Sheffield United but for the humiliation which had preceded them a year previous – there only other Wembley win came against Everton in the Zenith Data Systems Cup in 1991. Ironically both Steve Coppell and Howard Kendall were opposing managers that day also.
Throughout the match both mangers looked perplexed in their emotions, Kendall looked tense and nervous whilst Coppell, their acting manager was sat calm and only showed real emotion was the final whistle blew.
Despite joyous scenes at the end the first minutes of the game looked far from that with both sides looking edgy; unwilling to make any mistakes. Palace slowly bedded into the game and produced a series of attacks; Bruce Dyer forced Tracey who deputised for the injured Alan Kelly into a save at the far post after only 15 minutes.
United defended with stealth and held on but were forced into a change after half an hour when marksman Don Hutchinson was stretched off with a suspected broken collar bone. It wasn’t the liveliest of finals in the first half with the Blades winning just two corners.
But after 20 second half minutes had sprung into double figures with set-pieces earned, this was where they were most dangerous with Fjortoft winning flick-ons but no one of note to finalise the attack.
It was Palace’s day and they earned it with full flowing football and with David Hopkin supported by Kevin Muscat, Simon Rodger and Andy Roberts whilst Dyer worked well on the flanks – his powerful runs often bamboozling the Blades defence.
As the game looked certain to run into extra-time the Eagles won a corner. Rodgers played it short to Roberts whose cross was glanced out for Hopkin awaiting his opportunity on the edge of the box, he swiftly shaped to shoot, his delicate curling effort flew into the top corner – Tracey was motionless and speechless as he turned his head to be met by the roar of the jubilant Palace fans behind his goal erupt like a volcano as they made their return to the Premiership.